The last of the Sports Cats
The launch of the Series 2 HSV SportsCat was an endorsement of the risky decision to take the performance brand into the crowded high-end ute market.
Holden showed this off in an innovative towing event to showcase the ‘quintessential Kiwi summer experience.’
National marketing manager, Marc Warr says, “It’s all very well to talk about how good the Trailblazer and Colorado are to tow with”.
“We thought we’d put our money where our mouth is and put these vehicles to the test as they offer the highest tow rating in the Holden range.”
To help demonstrate a typical summer getaway, journalists embarked on a tow-test from Auckland to the Coromandel, ate fish and chips then enjoyed an overnight stay in caravans at Shelly Beach Top Ten Holiday Park.
“It was an excellent opportunity to hook up a variety of large 21 foot to 25 foot Jayco Caravans and experience the pure towability on offer courtesy of the Trailblazer and Colorado,” said Warr.
The two Holden models, well known for torquey powertrains, use the 2.8L 4-cylinder Duramax engine delivering up to 500Nm from the automatic transmission, suiting them for all towing applications.
Easing the towing of large campers are the vehicles’ grade braking and trailer sway control which help keep the towed item under control.
In operation, if the system detects the onset of instability it uses a combination of ABS, traction control, electronic brake force distribution and electronic brake assist to help maintain control.
While it’s impossible to beat the laws of physics, the company says the combined active and passive safety features give the driver peace of mind thanks to a capable and functional tow vehicle.
The Trailblazer is rated to tow 3 tonnes and the Colorado 3.5 tonnes and, although the laws on towing need keeping mind -- GVM (gross vehicle mass), GCM (gross combined mass) and tow ball loading, and offer course, an open road speed limit of 90km/h.
Warr sums up the Kiwi Road Trip: “We wanted to show how capable Holden models such as the Trailblazer and Colorado are at helping Kiwis get away for their holidays”.
“Demonstrations such as these are undisputable evidence that the Trailblazer and Colorado are more than up to the job and one of NZ’s best vehicles for towing.”
